Sunday, April 25, 2010

Pigeons and Doves

When I first came here to live there were Crested Pigeons everywhere. Then a couple of years ago I saw the first Spotted Turtle-Doves. These are not native to Australia but were introduced and can replace the native species. I saw fewer and fewer Crested Pigeons while the others were always somewhere around the yard. - Spotted Turtle-DoveLast Friday (in a brief spell of fine weather!) I saw Crested Pigeons roosting on the electricity wires going in to the neighbor's house. I counted 18 in all - sitting in several groups along the wires. This was one group.They watched me come out with my camera and gradually move closer. Some looked at me from one side and some watched from the other - some simply looked bored as if they wished I would leave!At least I now know that their numbers are not decreasing around here - even if they are not in my yard so frequently.For more bird photos visit the Bird Photography Weekly.

Thank goodness the Cresteds are not being affected by the Spotteds! We have quite a number of Spotteds here but they're not in the urban areas. Great photos of the different attitudes of the Cresteds, Mick!

...I love that crest! They are very pretty and exotic looking. Glad to hear they are not being displaced. I heard my first Eurasian Collard Dove in Florida last month. I heard they are spreading fairly quickly. I wonder how long before they arrive in our area. I would miss our Mourning Doves if they were displaced. I love their plaintive call.

I don't get either around here although I am familiar with them both from other places I've lived. The turtle-doves are common in Launceston so I guess they will get here eventually and the way the Crested pigeons have spread over the last few decades we will probable end up with them too.

Thanks for commenting everyone. It's amazing how many places there are around the world where we humans have put exotic animal and plant species and now have huge problems. Mosura, I had heard that the Crested Pigeons were spreading very fast southwards. I wonder if this is another thing that will be blamed on global warming - or maybe its just our land use practices??

Crested pigeons are delightful. I see them in ones and twos on the diary farms, but not in the forest, of course.

They seem to have been increasing in numbers in Melbourne. I thought it might have had something to do with the drought --- the pigeons moving in to areas where there were plenty of grass seeds. (But that's only anecdotal. I have no idea if it's true!)